OF late years so much has the game of billiards increased in popularity that it can scarcely be said ever to be altogether out of season. Even during the hot summer months the matches are few, not so much on account of the weather as on account of the large number of persons who are out of town. Perhaps in no country in the world is the game so popular among the higher classes as in India. In England, too, we are glad to say there is many a well-built billiard-room overlooking the sea, the green blinds outside the windows, and the green cloth, tempering the glare of light so often absolutely painful during those broiling days on which, according to an old Portuguese proverb, "none but an Englishman or a dog ever goes out."
During the past month there have been matches and rumours of matches. First, Stammers and Hunt seem to have been repeatedly meeting.
On June 3 they met at the Lamb Tavern, Leadenhall street, and played a match of 1,000 up for £25 a side, Hunt giving Stammers 300 points. In this game Hunt appeared to be quite out of form, and Stammers won by nearly as many points as he received.
On the 7th, however, they met again for a like sum, and on this occasion the tables were turned, as Hunt, giving the same points, gained the victory by 30 points, his two best breaks being 63 and 50.
On the 21st June the same men met at the Duke of Kent, in the Old Kent-road, on friendly exhibition terms.
Hunt succeeded in winning 500 up at billiards by 32 points after giving 100 at starting, and also the odd game out of seven at pyramids, in which he conceded the odds of one ball This was a better performance than winning the billiards, as Stammers is undoubtedly a better pyramid player than he is billiard player.
The only match for money definitely arranged is that between S. W. Stanley and Fred Bennett, who meet on the 28th inst., and play for a stake of £200 a game of 1,000 up on a championship table.
It will be remembered that F. Bennett some time back—viz., the 22nd May, issued a challenge to play any man level on a championship table, bar Cook, Roberts, and J. Bennett. On the 29th of May Kilkenny accepted the challenge, and according to all rules of fair play the match was made.
Whenever a challenge is issued through a public paper the challenge ought to be accompanied by a statement that a deposit has been left to bind the match: whoever covers this deposit, or whoever first covers this deposit, should the challenge be an open one, can then insist on the match being carried out, or can claim as forfeit the amount staked.
Notwithstanding Kilkenny's answer, it was announced on June 5th that a match will take place between F. Bennett and S. W. Stanley. We wish to draw no comparison between Kilkenny and Stanley; both are brilliant lion-hearted players, but we do say that the good old English custom of first come first served is far more consistent with the elementary principles of fair play.
We know it is customary for some of our contemporaries to insert challenges from what may be called known men without insisting on the usual deposit.
Known men should, however, bear in mind that if they do not stake their coin they stake their honour, and in the long run it is far more to their advantage to forfeit the former than the latter. We regret to add that the challenge issued by Stanley and Richards to play Kilkenny and Alfred Bennett, though accepted by the latter, will not take place, on the ground of the former declining to play.
For our own part, we do not wish to be ever exposed to the painful task of deciding who is known and who is not. We will make no distinction between the wealthiest champion, whose name may be a household word, and the poorest and least known player in the kingdom. Both alike, should they wish to offer a challenge through our columns, must accompany such challenge by a reasonable deposit, and such deposit will not be allowed to be withdrawn on any grounds until the challenged have had ample time either to accept or refuse. In some of the lower class sports certain individuals, more ingenious than ingenuous, find that issuing challenges, which they have not the slightest intention of ever carrying out, is by far the cheapest form «f advertising, and also of what they call keeping their name before the public.
But we turn to a pleasanter theme. On the 5th inst., and five following days, a real billiard treat commences for lovers of the game. The two brothers, Cyrille and Joseph Dion, the famous American billiard players, in conjunction with W. Cook, exhibit at the Guildhall Tavern. Those Who recollect the exhibition of Berger some years back at Saville House will be able to form some idea of what the play will be, as we believe we are right in stating that both the Dions are superior to what Berger was. The games will be played on an American champion table—viz., no pockets and 10ft. long by 5ft. wide, the ordinary French or American table being, we believe, 9ft. by 4|ft. Messrs. Burroughes and Watts are making a table expressly for the occasion. The same players, we believe, intend exhibiting at Wimbledon during the volunteer meeting, and the whole of the profits that may arise out of the billiard saloons of Messrs.
Burroughes and Watts at Wimbledon during the week will be devoted to increase the funds of the National Rifle Association.